Flashback: When the Gold Coast Chargers coach predicted the death of rugby league team

IT’S been a tough week for Gold Coast football, with the Suns losing a coach and the Titans recovering from their worst-even loss. But think on the positive side, things are much better than then used to be.

The Chargers celebrate a try during the Illawarra vs. Gold Coast Chargers at Parramatta Stadium, September 5, 1997.

IF YOU thought this was a tough week for football on the Gold Coast, think again.

The Titans suffered their worst loss on record, to the Brisbane Broncos, while the Suns moved on their coach, Rodney Eade.

No matter how difficult it was, cast your memory back 20 years this week to dire predictions that “first grade rugby league” was declared to be “finished forever”.

Gold Coast Chargers Phil Economidis. Photo: David Kapernick.

That was the prediction of Gold Coast Chargers coach Phil Economidis who warned the days of the top-level teams would be numbered if his team was dumped from its home ground of Carrara.

“It would be the death of the game. You will never see another team based here again if we leave,” he said following a training session.

“This is the most popular league team the Gold Coast has ever had and support is still snowballing.

“If you take this team away what have you got left on the Gold Coast in the way of first class sporting representatives? Nothing.”

Action from the Manly vs. Gold Coast Chargers at Brookvale Oval. May 11 1997.

Economidis predicted the Chargers, if allowed to remain at Carrara, would survive a united league competition and continue to promote the Gold Coast “everywhere we go”.

“You can’t put a dollar and cents value on the promotion we give this area,” he said.

“In a unified competition at that elite level, the Chargers could only continue to grow in popularity.

“With the plans to improve and extend the ground if we stay, Carrara will be an excellent facility.

Manly's Neil Tierney tries to get through the Gold Coast defence during the Gold Coast Chargers vs. Manly game, 23 August 1997.

The coach told the Bulletin at the time he dreaded a return of the days when talented Gold Coast players were forced to leave the city to further their careers.

“I can’t see too many Gold Coast supporters travelling to Brisbane to watch us play,” he said.

Chargers hooker and State of Origin player Jamie Goddard said his teammates didn’t want to leave the Coast and were eager for a decision either way.

“It would be a big upheaval, especially for people with homes and families,” he said.

“All we can do is keep winning and pulling big crowds to show we should stay here.”

Action from the Manly vs. Gold Coast Chargers at Brookvale Oval. May 11, 1997.

The Chargers had struggled to win games or attract crowds for years, with constant ­questions about the continued viability of the team.

The threat to leave the Gold Coast came near the end of the Super League war which ended following the 1997 creation of the National Rugby League competition.

The Chargers made the ­finals in 1997 for the first time but struggled the following season.

Action from the Manly vs. Gold Coast Chargers at Brookvale Oval. May 11, 1997.

With 20 teams playing in the 1998 season, the Chargers narrowly avoided the wooden spoon and were axed from the competition.

But it was not the end, with the NRL adding the Gold Coast Titans within a decade. They made their debut in 2007.